‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ star Niecy Nash says the show sheds more light on the victims than the killer

Niecy Nash has heard it before – people appreciate her rave reviews Dahmer – Monsters: The Story of Jeffrey Dahmer without actually seeing it because they didn’t want to swallow a limited Netflix series about a serial killer. Fortunately, Nash has an answer for these ambivalent fans. “I feel it sheds more light on the victims than the killer,” says the actress who plays Glenda Cleveland, a real-life neighbor of Dahmer who repeatedly tried to report his crimes to the police. “You usually look at it from the main character’s point of view, but you actually enter the story through the eyes of your neighbor.” Here, Nash – currently beaming Reno: 911! and The newcomer: federal agencies – talks about the role that changed her life.

DEADLINE: The attention you have been given dahmer… it compares to anything else you’ve done in your career?

BEAUTIFUL NASH: Absolutely not. But I didn’t take this particular job because I thought I would [perform well] in all countries and stimulate all these online conversations. I had no idea all this would happen. This story is told through a different lens. You can unpack the collateral damage in all the families that had loved ones lose their lives to Dahmer. And while Glenda Cleveland wasn’t killed by him, she was definitely a victim.

DEADLINE: Was there a lot of research on Glenda before you started?

NASH: Well, Ryan Murphy is a master storyteller, and he makes sure you have access to everything available. This character is a mix of a few different women and people in the community who had an experience with Jeffrey Dahmer. I did my best and understood that all injured have something in common. When your voice isn’t heard, when your needs aren’t met, when you scream and no one listens, that’s a space we’ll end up in if we weren’t there in our lives.

DEADLINE: How did you land the role?

NASH: Ryan called me. I said hello.” He said, “Niecy Nash-Betts. I said ok.” He said, “I wrote it with you.” He said, “Did you hear me?” I said ok. I love you and I trust you.” And that was it.

DEADLINE: There is a heartbreaking moment during the series when Glenda refers to one of Dahmer’s teenage victims as a baby. The police brought him back to Dahmer’s apartment after an escape attempt.

NASH: He was 13. I am a mother. That’s a baby for me! If Glenda Cleveland hadn’t been the one to call, or if Jeffrey Dahmer had been nothing but white, or if the police might not have been so homophobic, this boy might still be alive.